Braking device for skiing



Sept. 3, 1940. H. THIRRING BRAKING DEVICE FUR SKIING Filed m. 4, 1957 INVENTOR ATTOR NEYS Patented Sept. 3, 1940 oFr cE BRAKING DEVICE FOR lKHNG Hans Thirring, Vienna, Austria Application August 1937, Serial No. 157,278 in Austria April 1, 193'? 5 Claims.

This invention relates to a novel braking device for use in skiing, with the aid of which the skier is enabled to vary his rate of travel within wide limits by controlled alteration of air re- 5 sistance. This result is achieved in accordance with the invention by providing the skier with portable air baiile sheets which afford an obstacle to the headwind or to the relative headwind by the movement of the skier downhill. These air 10 baflie sheets are preferably so designed that their size may be varied at Will by the skier during running. The air baffles act as adjustable air brakes, and with their aid it is possible to adapt running to the nature of the country traversed.

5 The carrying out of turns may also be very considerably facilitated by the aid obtainable by one-sided use of the accessory device according to the present invention. When using this device, the skier experiences, on downhill runs,

20 a peculiar sensation akin to that of flying, since part of the weight of the body is carried'on the air and to this extent the legs are relieved of load.

The air bafiie sheets of wings according to 25 the present invention may be constructed and designed in a large variety of ways. It is preferred not to use skiing sticks or any other extraneous aids such as poles, frames, or the like for spreading the sheets, but to effect such spread- 30 ing by means of the limbs and the body of the user. A preferred form of construction for instance consists of a cloak-like garment secured along the arms and legs of the skier and so cut that, as seen from in front, when the skier 5 stretches out his arms laterally a trapezoidal or triangular sail is spread out between the hands and the legs. The hands themselves are left free to hold the skiing sticks in the usual manner. If the skier, when travelling downhill,

spreads out his arms and leans well forward so that the air baflie sheets or surfaces assume an appropriate angle of incidence, a part of the weight of the body is carried by the sail thus formed, with the result that a sensation of fly- 45 ing is produced. Folding up of the baffle sheets by bringing the arms together or to the side of the body renders the sheets inoperative and cancels the gliding action. It is thus possible to utilize the speed gained down a slope to obtain a long run out on the level. If only one arm is brought in to the side while the other is left stretched out the skier describes a turn.

Since the eiiectiveness of the air baflie sheets becomes greater with increase in the speed of 55 travel the use of this device sets a limit to the may be made with a relatively small area. In

this case a suitable effect is obtained by the use of a tunic or the like having a triangular piece of windproof material inserted between the sleeve and the body on each side and extending down for instance as far as the hip. A more pronounced eliect may be obtained by using an overall or one-piece suit with similar triangular wings extending down as far as the knees or as far as the ankles. It is preferable, however to provide a one-piece air baflie sheet in the form of a cloak or cape which is gathered in sucha manner that it is cambered and bulges out at the back of the wearer during running. The rucksack is preferably worn underneath a swooping cloak of this type. To increase the total area of the baflle sheet the portions of the cloak adjoining the ends of the sleeves may be stiffened, for instance with felt reinforced with sea reed. These stiffened portions may extend beyond the hands of the wearer and be provided with hand-loops by which they may be held fast and to which the hem of the cloak is attached. The lower end of the cloak is attached, by means of bands or straps, to the wearers legs. In order to enable the legs to be spread apart, as is necessary in stemming and turning, the cloak is provided with a fold preferably extending up to the back so as to allow the cloak to belly out in the wind. It is also advisable not to make the cloak directly fast to the feet or ankles, but to insert a suitably elastic intermediate element consisting for example of rubber bands. To prevent the cloak from fluttering in the wind it is further advisable to sew on to or insert into the outer edge of the cloak elastic bands, for example of rubber. The air resistance set up by the cloak may be increased by the provision of longitudinal slots kept from spreading by means of transverse or bridging webs, so that they retain their longitudinal shapeeven when the cloak is strained by air pressure. Air streams through these slots with the formation of eddies which set up suction action on the back of the cloak.

In order that the cloak may also be service'- able as a garment it is preferably waterproofed,

the device.

panying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a back View of a braking device in accordance withthe invention, in the form of a cloak, while Fig. 2 is a front view of the same.

Referring to the drawing, the cloak I, consists of windproof material, for example balloon silk, sail-cloth, bed ticking, or the like. To the upper edge of the cloak sleeves 2 are sewn throughout their entire length. 3 denotes stiffened portions provided with hand loops 4 and preferably made from felt-covered sea reed. 5 is the back fold the lower hem of which is gathered by means of an elastic band 9. 6 denotes the tucks by means of which the air bafile sheet is rounded or cambered. 1 is an elastic band which serves to tension the hem of the cloak as soon as the skier stretches out his arms and thereby spreads out, the air bafile sheet. 8 is a likewise elastic band to which there are preferably secured straps H] for attachment to the ankles of the person using l l denotes the front portion of the cloak adapted to be buttoned up across the wear-, ers chest. If it is desired to use the cloak as a protection from the weather this front portion may also be increased in size to such an extent that it covers the whole of the front of the upper part of the body.

I claim:

1. Braking device for skiing comprising an air baflle sheet having the form of a coat, cloak or the like provided with sleeves whichare sewn throughout their entire length to the upper edge of the coat, the back part of said coat being cut to a form which causes the coat to belly out at the back of the wearer when subjected to air pressure coming from in front of said wearer, and means for securing the lower end of the coat to the legs of the wearer.

2. Braking device for skiing comprising an air baffle sheet having the form of a coat, cloak or the like provided with sleeves which are sewn throughout their entire length to the upper edge of the coat, stiffened portions attached to the outer ends of each sleeve provided with hand loops and means for securing the lower end of the coat to the legs of the wearer.

3. Braking device for skiing comprising an air bafiie sheet having the form of a coat, cloak or the like provided with sleeves which are sewn throughout their entire length to the upper edge of the coat, hand loops attached to the outer ends of the sleeves, the back part of said coat being cut to a form which causes the coat to belly out at the back of the'wearer when subjected toa'ir pressure coming from in front of said wearer, andmeans for securing the lower end of the coat to the legs of the wearer.

4. Braking device forskiing comprising an air bafile sheet having the form of a coat, cloak or the like provided with sleeeves which are sewn throughout their entire length to the upper edge of the coat, a fold or gusset stretching down'the back part of the coat to enable the cloak to belly when subjected to air pressure from in front and means for securing the lower end of thecoat to the legs of the wearer.

5. Braking device for skiing comprising an air bafile sheet having the form; of a coat, cloak or the like provided with sleeves which are'sewn when subjected to air pressure from infront, an

elastic band incorporated with the lower edge of the said gusset and adapted to gather said gusset and'means for securing the lower end or:

the coat to the legs of the wearer.

HANS V'I'HIRRIN'G. 

